Published: Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at 8:49 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at 4:11 p.m.

All lanes of Interstate 85 North in Thomasville near Exit 104 were closed for about three hours Wednesday after a wreck involving a tanker truck earlier in the day.

The accident between a vehicle and tanker truck carrying 8,100 gallons of ethanol occurred about 1:40 a.m. at Exit 104 between Randolph Street and Finch Farm Road, said Josh Myers, a supervisor with the Davidson County 911 Center.

Mike Pittman, captain with the Fair Grove Volunteer Fire Department, said a vehicle rear-ended a tractor-trailer to cause the accident. The accident was under investigation by the N.C. Highway Patrol.

Initially, only one northbound lane was closed, and two other lanes were open. However, about 10:30 a.m. the N.C. Department of Transportation announced all lanes were closed. They remained closed for about three hours, until two lanes reopened. The third lane reopened shortly after.

The tanker truck was carrying ethanol, and there were no spills, Myers said. The ethanol was transferred to another truck by an environmental company from Archdale, causing emergency crews to shut down I-85 North, Pittman said.

The captain said all lanes were shut down because a vehicle traveling by as the ethanol was being transferred could have generated a small heat source and ignited fumes from the ethanol.

The driver of the vehicle and the driver of the tanker were transported for treatment after the wreck. Their names were not available Wednesday.

Pittman said the driver of the vehicle was transported to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem and the other patient to Novant Health Thomasville Medical Center. Pam Kearns, a spokeswoman with the Highway Patrol, said the injuries were not life-threatening.

Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 217, or at darrick.ignasiak@the-dispatch.com.

<p>All lanes of Interstate 85 North in Thomasville near Exit 104 were closed for about three hours Wednesday after a wreck involving a tanker truck earlier in the day.</p><p>The accident between a vehicle and tanker truck carrying 8,100 gallons of ethanol occurred about 1:40 a.m. at Exit 104 between Randolph Street and Finch Farm Road, said Josh Myers, a supervisor with the Davidson County 911 Center.</p><p>Mike Pittman, captain with the Fair Grove Volunteer Fire Department, said a vehicle rear-ended a tractor-trailer to cause the accident. The accident was under investigation by the N.C. Highway Patrol.</p><p>Initially, only one northbound lane was closed, and two other lanes were open. However, about 10:30 a.m. the N.C. Department of Transportation announced all lanes were closed. They remained closed for about three hours, until two lanes reopened. The third lane reopened shortly after.</p><p>The tanker truck was carrying ethanol, and there were no spills, Myers said. The ethanol was transferred to another truck by an environmental company from Archdale, causing emergency crews to shut down I-85 North, Pittman said.</p><p>The captain said all lanes were shut down because a vehicle traveling by as the ethanol was being transferred could have generated a small heat source and ignited fumes from the ethanol.</p><p>The driver of the vehicle and the driver of the tanker were transported for treatment after the wreck. Their names were not available Wednesday.</p><p>Pittman said the driver of the vehicle was transported to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem and the other patient to Novant Health Thomasville Medical Center. Pam Kearns, a spokeswoman with the Highway Patrol, said the injuries were not life-threatening.</p><p>Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 217, or at darrick.ignasiak@the-dispatch.com.</p>